'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME IV.' [‎199v] (403/652)

390
MAK— MAK
Fishing is carried on with both net and line, and the bulk of it is
carried on by local boats, of which two or three are owned in almost every
coast village between Jashk and Gwatar. In April and May however, and
again from October to December, Chahbar is the resort of a score of large
sized boats owned by Arabs, and of a dozen others from Gwadar which come
to take part in the fishing. The fish caught for export, whether by natives
or strangers, are cured on the spot by being gutted, rubbed with salt, kept
a few days and then washed in the sea and finally dried in the sun. The
fish, when thoroughly cured, are sold to Baluch and Indian retail traders,
who visit all the places upon the coast periodically in order to purchase
them for resale to merchants at Chahbar and Gwadar ; the profits of the fish
trade are said to be large, amounting to as much as 40 per cent upon outlay.
There are no pearl fisheries upon the Persian Makran coast.
The only considerable ports are Jashk, Chahbar and Gwatar, and a
, leading part is played in the foreign commerce
oreign ra e. 0 f the district by Hindus and Khojahs, British
subjects, who reside permanently at Chahbar and Gwatar.
The chief exports are dates, 'pish palm mats, dried fish, 'poto or fish-
maw isinglass, shark-fins, raw cotton, ghi, goat’-hair, camel-hair, wool
and hides in small quantities. The annual value of the exports appears
to be about Bs. 1,50,000 at Chahbar and Rs. 50,000 at Gwatar : the trade r
of Gwatar is at present depressed by the prevalence of disorder in the
neighbouring country. No estimate is possible for Jashk or other smaller
ports. The bulk of the exports goes to India, but a portion to Arabian
ports. The profits of the export trade are said to run from 15 to 20 per
cent, or, in the case of dried fish, from 25 to 40 per cent.
Imported goods are principally rice,flour, piece-goods,lead,iron,tobacco,
beads, mineral and vegetable oil, matches, tea, cotton thread, silk, spices and
sugar, and the profits of the trade are placed at 20 per cent., on the average.
The annual value of the Chahbar imports is estimated at Rs. 1,00,000"
and that of the Gwatar imports at Rs. 30,000; for Jashk and other ports
there are no data. It should also be mentioned that there is a considerable
importation, chiefly from Masqat, of modern rifles manufactured in England,
France, Germany and Belgium.
The internal trade of the country is carried on chiefly by barter, agri-
Internal trade and manu- cultural and pastoral products being exhang-
factures. e d for dried fish and foreign imported goods.
The ports of Jashk, Chahbar and Gwatar are
the main trade centres; Tank and Galag also are markets, but petty
ones. Business is chiefly in the hands of Baluchi and British Indian
traders. The merchandise is transported about the country on camels
and donkeys.
Manufactures there are none, except of pish palm mats, partly for export,
and of swords and pistols for local sale.
The silver currency consists of Maria Theresa dollars, by Baluchis
called Qursh and by Arabs Riyal, worth at present Rs. 1-4-0, each ;
Currency, weights and ot PeIS ' an . , her ? Wortl1 ,? ne - tiird ? {
measures. a rupee apiece, and of the Indian rupee in
Persian Makran styled kaladdr: the small